Satire on the
"War of Jenkin's Ear"
Title: "The EUROPEAN STATE JOCKIES, Running
a Heat for the BALLANCE OF POWER, with various
designs adapted for the Year 1740. Invented
by the President of the Political society, &
inscrib'd to the Members thereof."
This caricature relates to an incident which
occured in the Carribean in 1731 and eventually
developed into the War of the Austrian Succession.
Britan and Spain were trade rivals in the West
Indies and an English Sea Captain Robert Jenkins
had his ship boarded by Captain Juan de Leon
Fandino of Spain. Returning to England, Jenkins
reported that Fandino had tied him up and cut
off his ear with a sword. Jenkins even presented
the preserved ear before Parliament. The attention
given to the incident inflamed nationalist sentiment
and in 1739, Britain declared war on Spain.
The resulting small sea battles - known as the
War of Jenkins Ear - were in effect the first
phase of the European wide conflict the war
of the Austiran Succession.
In this engraving, Captain Jenkins can be seen
near the center of the image holding his ear
in one hand.
The other figures are allegories of the various
European powers of the time.
The engraving contains multiple referneces
to Cuba. At lower left Brittania holds a map
of Cuba, and the island of Cuba can be seen
just above the image of Jenkins.
Dimensions: 17 X 11.5 inches
Condition: Some light browning and discoloration
of paper. Cut to edge of image at the top. small
tear around 1/2 inch in upper left of print.
SOLD
